Curaçao · Work
Curaçao Work permit
First stay: 3 yrs
Residence permit for employed work
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedRecord corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Work permit is a work route for Curaçao. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- XCG 655 ≈ $370 · +2 more
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesXCG 655 ≈ $370 · +2 more
- XCG 655 (≈ $370)First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined.
- XCG 1,270 (≈ $710)First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined.
- XCG 1,885 (≈ $1,050)First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
RenewalRenewable
The permit can be extended. You can ask for an extension from four months before it expires, and each application can cover up to three years.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of CuraçaoAdmission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao
Permanent residenceAfter 10 years of residence
An indefinite residence permit is granted after ten years of uninterrupted lawful residence in Curaçao.
Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
Dutch nationality by naturalisation needs five years or more in the Kingdom with a valid residence permit that allows you to stay permanently, plus the integration test. Some exceptions shorten the five years.
ProcessingOfficial timeline
The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao
Where to applyFrom abroad
Your employer must first obtain an employment permit for you, then you apply for the residence permit and wait outside Curaçao for the decision on a first application. For an extension you can wait in Curaçao.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Curaçao, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Curaçao
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is employed by a company in Curaçao.
- The employer has first obtained a valid employment permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning), and the residence request follows a positive decision.
What you must show and pay3
- A fee of XCG 655 (≈ $370) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined.
- A fee of XCG 1,270 (≈ $710) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined.
- A fee of XCG 1,885 (≈ $1,050) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
Documents4
- A copy of the valid employment permit and the employer's chamber of commerce extract, not older than six months.
- An employer statement and a guarantee statement, each signed by the employer with a XCG 10 (≈ $6) stamp.
- A copy of the passport, a birth certificate not older than one year and a certificate of good conduct not older than three months.
- For a sole-proprietor or private employer: a tax statement showing taxable income of at least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100) from two years back.
Steps1
- Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years.
After you arrive1
- An extension can be requested from four months before the permit expires.
When you become tax resident
How Curaçao decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Liability follows where a person lives, not the type of permit.
- Foreign-source income
People living in Curaçao pay income tax on a progressive 2026 scale from 9.75% to 46.5%, and foreign-source income is also taxable with relief against double taxation.
All tax rules for Curaçao Tax records checked
Full official text
Residence permit for foreigners employed by a Curaçao company that first obtains an employment permit for them. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- A fee of XCG 655 (≈ $370) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined. 2
- A fee of XCG 1,270 (≈ $710) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined. 2
- A fee of XCG 1,885 (≈ $1,050) · First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined. 2
Requirements
- The applicant is employed by a company in Curaçao. 1
- The employer has first obtained a valid employment permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning), and the residence request follows a positive decision. 1
- A copy of the valid employment permit and the employer's chamber of commerce extract, not older than six months. 1
- An employer statement and a guarantee statement, each signed by the employer with a XCG 10 (≈ $6) stamp. 1
- A copy of the passport, a birth certificate not older than one year and a certificate of good conduct not older than three months. 1
- For a sole-proprietor or private employer: a tax statement showing taxable income of at least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100) from two years back. 1
- Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years. 1
- An extension can be requested from four months before the permit expires. 1
Stay
- Permit requested for up to three years; extension possible.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign nationals; Dutch and US citizens and people with a Dutch parent born in Curaçao use declarations instead of permits.
Work
Employment with the sponsoring employer.
Family
Family can apply for a residence permit with family.
Official sources
- Work and sole proprietorship permits · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026 · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands · checked 2026-10-11
Work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Job-offer residence Mexico | – | 4 yr | – |
| Internationalisation visa M Colombia | – | 3 yr | – |
| Scientist/professional permit Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Work visa Brazil | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Work permit?
A fee of XCG 655 (≈ $370). First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined. A fee of XCG 1,270 (≈ $710). First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined. A fee of XCG 1,885 (≈ $1,050). First application for a residence permit (work purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
How long can I stay on the Work permit?
Permit requested for up to three years; extension possible.
How long does the Work permit take to process?
The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide.
Can I work on the Work permit?
Employment with the sponsoring employer.
Can I bring my family on the Work permit?
Family can apply for a residence permit with family.
Does the Work permit lead to permanent residence in Curaçao?
Time on the Work permit counts toward permanent residence in Curaçao, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
How are Work permit holders taxed in Curaçao?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work permit. The standard rules apply: People living in Curaçao pay income tax on a progressive 2026 scale from 9.75% to 46.5%, and foreign-source income is also taxable with relief against double taxation.
More in Curaçao
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Work and sole proprietorship permits · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026 · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.